The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has disclosed that efforts are underway to provide electricity meters for additional six million households in Nigeria.
Osinbajo disclosed this in his presentation at the 3rd Ministerial Performance Review Retreat for Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and top Government Functionaries on Monday at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.
The vice president’s presentation was titled, “The President Muhammadu Buhari Administration: Reflections on the Journey So Far.’’
Osinbajo said mass metering scheme would have a huge impact in electricity supply across the country.
“The National Mass Metering Programme being financed by CBN has created 10,000 jobs and distributed 1 million meters and is establishing a structure to meter an additional 6 million households and sustainably eliminate the metering gap. 41-meter factories are now present in Nigeria; where do we go from here? One grid is unrealistic; we need two others, private sector run”, he said.
The vice president said another game-changing achievement of the administration was on digital economy.
He said the sector contributed 18.4 percent to GDP in the second quarter of 2020 — the highest ever in the history of the country and almost three times the contribution of oil and gas to GDP.
“ How have these figures been achieved; first is the rapid expansion of broadband access. This has also been helped by the Ministry of Communication and digital economy directly engaging the states to reduce the rates charged for laying fiber optic cables many have complied with the right of way policy and have as low as N140 per metre, while some states have completely removed the charges.
“In August 2019, the broadband coverage was 33.7 percent, and today it is 44.65 percent, representing close to 13 million new broadband users. There were 13,823 4G base stations, and we now have 36,751, representing a 165.86 percent increase. The percentage 4G coverage across the country also increased from 23 percent to 77.52 percent,” he said.
